Ninh Thuan lures investment in renewable energy

Ninh
Thuan (VNA) - The south central coastal province of Ninh Thuan is
trying to create favourable conditions to lure investment in developing wind
and solar power towards ensuring sustainable development of the power sector
and contributing to national energy security.

So far the
province has granted investment licences to 8 wind power projects with a combined
capacity of 514 MW, and total capital of 19.7 trillion VND (866.9 million USD).
Construction work has started on four projects, namely Mui Dinh, Cong Hai 1,
Trung Nam and Dam Nai.

The 40 MW-Dam Nai wind
power plant was connected to the national grid in September with an initial three
turbines with a combined capacity of 6MW in the first phase. The second phase
will see the installation of 13 more turbines, expected to be completed in
October 2018, raising the plant’s capacity to 40MW.

Besides, the provincial
People’s Committee has granted approval to investment
plans of three solar power plants and allowed 30 other potential investors to survey
locations in the province.

The
locality is completing its planning for solar power development from 2016-2020
with a vision to 2030 to submit it to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for
approval, thus laying the legal foundation for attracting investors, and receiving
investment from the central budget for the transmission network serving renewable
energy production.

Incentives
in terms of land, taxes and infrastructure will be offered to investors,
according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

Director
of the Department Pham Dang Thanh said renewable energy is identified as an
advantage to create a boost to the development of other economic sectors,
adding that every investment project has been considered on both socio-economic
and environment aspects.

Ninh
Thuan aims to increase local wind power capacity to 1,429 MW, and solar power
capacity to 4,848 MW by 2030.

A survey
by the World Bank has found that Ninh Thuan has the greatest wind speed of the
nation, averaging 7.5 metres per second for 10 months a year, an ideal
condition for developing wind power. The province also has the average sunshine
duration of 7.7 hours a day.-VNA